Part I
Getting Started
In this part . . .
Tighten your apron, arm yourself with spatula and frying pan and brace yourself as you begin to embark on a culinary quest against hunger! Feeding yourself at uni may feel like a quest as epic as finding a certain stolen ring, but trust me, with the help of this book, youâll find it a lot easier, cheaper and more enjoyable than you thought. Part I is where it all begins and where you get kitted out with everything you need for cooking at uni.
Chapter 1
Saying Hello to Your Kitchen
In This Chapter
Cooking at uni â fun or fiendish? Storing and reheating food safely Thereâs no better time to start cooking than when youâre at uni, surrounded by friends who are constantly up for having a laugh and grateful for anything edible you can rustle up for them.
This book has everything you need to make that happen. Donât worry if the extent of your culinary expertise is making a cheese sandwich or if you struggle peeling a banana; throw away any ideas you have of cooking and get ready to start looking forward to every mealtime.
Before you get stuck in to making fantastic food, youâre going to need something to make it with. This chapter goes over everything you need to kit out your kitchen, from essential utensils to store-cupboard favourites.
Student kitchens arenât renowned for their cleanliness, so I also go over some basic kitchen hygiene. You want your food to be safe to eat and to avoid anything nasty developing in the fridge . . .
But enough with the scary talk. Read on for why youâll soon be consulting this book with a spatula in one hand and a saucepan in the other.
Checking out the Benefits of Cooking at Uni
The benefits of cooking for yourself when youâre at uni are seriously massive. Not enough students realise how a bit of time in the kitchen can do wonders for their health, bank accounts, relationships and, of course, appetites. Cooking at uni:
Saves you money. A lot of money. Cashing out on ready meals or takeaways five nights a week soon adds up and rapidly depletes your student loan. With a bit of essential reading (that is, this book), you can eat very well and very cheaply while youâre at uni. Instead of paying ÂŁ4 or ÂŁ5 for food each night (which could soon add up to ÂŁ25 a week just on your evening meal), you can spend around the same amount of money but feed yourself three good meals a day, seven days a week. So while everyone else is squandering their money on fast food, you can be quietly saving for that new Playstation game, new dress or, of course, textbook on your reading list . . . Keeps you healthy. By cooking for yourself, you can see exactly what youâre putting into your body. You know how much salt a meal has, or what vegetables are in there, plus you can choose what you eat. Getting into shape for the summer holidays is easy when youâre cooking for yourself because you can decide what to eat and really feel and see the benefits of it. Having the ability to cook healthy grub not only keeps your skin glowing and your body in shape, but it also means youâre less likely to catch any germs and bugs that are going round campus. Which means you spend less time in bed feeling sorry for yourself and more time out at parties.
Increases your attractiveness. Seriously! Okay, so a floral apron and Marigolds donât do it for everyone, but thereâs something about a girl or guy who can cook. Mmm. No, I mean youâll have no problems making friends... 
